Best Controller
Re your SAAB coment
At the time the cross wind limit on the SAAB was 35knts and only after this event was it reduced to 30knts. It was later found that this aircraft and others in the fleet suffered from an uncommanded steering input when the oleo was fully extended (to do with wheel centering prior to gear retraction) this could occur when taking of from rough and uneven surfaces due to WoW switch position. The instant wind passed to the crew was from the reports i read below the figure you suggest. In any event the wind reported to crews at Leeds have little to do with the actual wind. I have seen a tail wind on each end at the same time i have also seen one wind sock limp and the other on viagra!
What you comments show is that Leeds is a "interesting airport" to operate from, that the runway is mis alinged with regard to the wind and is as rough as they come anywhere this side of the CIS states, i did say in January that it was only a matter of time before we had a major incident
No its not at rat hole, but an uneven runway that is old and very rough across the prevailing wind at 650 ft above sea level comes a close second, one wonders why the saab didn't use R27 in that wind, maybe it was closed with aircraft parked on it!!
Cheers
Burt